Zermatt has so many regular guests because the hotels have been among the world’s top-classed properties for years. This is proved by countless rating agencies, which publish their results every year. The Swiss business magazine Bilanz also reports this once again for 2015.

The Matterhorn sparkles in the night. 50 lamps along the Hörnligrat illuminate the route of the first ascenders from 1865. The illumination can be seen from Zermatt three times each night – until the end of September 2015.

Nine bronze markers along the Bahnhofstrasse in the centre of Zermatt remind each one of the first climbers of the Matterhorn. They reached the summit in July 1865. Now those interested can follow the “Walk of Climb.”

The “Grave of the Unknown Climber” is located in the Mountaineers’ Cemetery. It reminds us of the more than 500 deaths, which have taken place on the Matterhorn since 1865. And of the missing and dead, who could not be found or completely removed after their fall.

Pure enjoyment in Zermatt, on Sunnegga, every Monday evening. It is all about tradition and pleasure at 2,288 m. By gondola, an aperitif with a view to the Matterhorn, and a raclette buffet all accompanied by vibrant, atmospheric folklore music.

As part of the 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn, children expressed their wishes about how the future of Zermatt should look. The wishes were locked into a time capsule and it was lowered into the ground near the Gemeindehaus where it can be seen.

Selfies in Zermatt – that is something very special this summer. At different places, these nostalgic pictures can be taken in an entertaining setting throughout the summer. Take part, post and tell the world how beautiful it is in Zermatt.

The third edition of the Matterhorn Ultraks Trail event takes place on 22 August 2015. Since the Matterhorn Ultraks is so popular, the organisers analysed the course and decided to set the number of participants higher. Now it is still possible to sign up for this year’s Matterhorn Ultraks Trail run.

Seven additional languages are now available for internet research and bookings through Zermatt-Matterhorn sites. They provide individualised information about offers and experiences in Zermatt-Matterhorn.

Both the SonntagsZeitung and Karl Wild‘s book on Switzerland’s top 150 hotels “Die 150 besten Hotels der Schweiz”, 2015/2016 edition, have just published their latest hotel rankings. Once again, Zermatt hotels are well represented among the top.

In the pop-up exhibit „The Matterhorn Family" on Gornergrat, images showing different “versions” of the Matterhorn from all around the world are on display. These are interpretations of the original – so to speak. The exhibit places both mountains in juxtaposition for viewing.

The rating website TripAdvisor gives the Zermatt operations the best marks time and again. This year, those enterprises have been selected for special awards that have already won them five times. In Zermatt, this is 7 restaurants and 16 hotels.

This shooting sport is enjoyed worldwide and is a great activity for groups or individuals alike. You can take part in various exciting and skillful shooting games in the beautiful mountain meadow, located in Furi, complete with shelter to protect you in case of bad weather.

The celebrations marking the jubilee for 150 years of the first ascent of the Matterhorn take place around Zermatt. On Gornergrat, each guest looks the congratulator in the eye. In this special case, on the Hörnligrat.

Bike friends have known for some time – Zermatt offers a great deal of flow and joy along bike trails rich in panoramic views. Now, a new Supertrail Map including an app has appeared about Zermatt. It is worth looking at and into. And after training, the next step is the Perskindol Swiss Epic Bike Race.

Not only is the Hirli ski lift (Hörnli ski lift) set to be replaced with a six-person chair lift by winter 2015/2016, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is also installing the world’s highest tricable gondola lift in time for the 2018/2019 winter season.

A major honour for Zermatt. According to the latest 2015 Travellers’ Choice Awards, Zermatt is the most popular destination in Switzerland. And this both in Europe – 6th place – and worldwide – 12th place.

The Fuchs Bakery is producing its second generation of „Matterhörnli". These are chocolate pralines shaped like the Matterhorn. Until recently, they were only available in Zermatt, but soon it will also be possible get see – and enjoy – them in Bern. They are among a select circle of products, which will find a home in the Swiss Brand Museum.

The stars will shine brightly and seem close enough to touch in the festival sky of Zermatt Unplugged from the 14th - 18th April 2015. The highest altitude concert stage in Europe, international stars reduced to the essentials in an intimate setting, this is Zermatt Unplugged. This year with James Blunt, Anastasia, Patricia Kaas and many others.

This has not been seen before – open-air theatre in Zermatt with a view of the Matterhorn at 2,600 m. Advanced tickets for The Matterhorn Story are available from Tuesday, 10 March. The performances run from 9 July to 29 August 2015 on the stage at Gornergrat. Now is the time to reserve tickets.

Just once to fly like a bird through the sky – this is what almost everyone wants to do. And this is now possible in Zermatt – with a jump out of the helicopter with a free fall past the Matterhorn. For safety sake, this is not done alone but rather in tandem with the skydiver Marc Heise.

This is the official Matterhorn hymne for 2015. To mark Matterhorn’s anniversary, Frida, the former ABBA singer will be joining up with the Zermatt singer Dan Daniell and some youngsters of Zermatt to record the Matterhorn anthem "1865" on CD. It will be available in store from February 13, 2015.

It is worthwhile going on a musical journey of discovery during the Zermatt Unplugged Music Festival (14-18 April 2015). Six stages at locations throughout the village and the ski areas are reserved for young, upcoming bands. They perform in front of an international audience in a relaxed atmosphere – this is Zermatt Unplugged.

This only functions with the Mammut Project 360. With it, one can climb the Matterhorn with a smartphone or tablet from the comfort of one’s home. Without any stress and without the usual dangers of mountain climbing.

The online portal of Germany’s renowned magazine GEO has listed the Zermatt open-air theater production of “The Matterhorn Story” scheduled for the 2015 summer as a “must.” This is something one must see – the editors are one on this.

The Swiss clothing brand Mammut is launching an entire collection for Alpinists and outdoor activists to mark the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn. Among other things, this includes the Mammut Whymper jacket, mountain climbing shoes, rucksacks and much more.

Also the United Kingdom's newspaper „The Telegraph" has granted recognition: Zermatt is a culinary hotspot. Worldwide. And it has selected three mountain restaurants from Zermatt and Cervinia as among the top ten.

The Matterhorn Ski paradise resort received the covated Best Ski Resort award at a ceremony held in Zurich on 6 November 2014. An independent survey of skiing areas shows top marks in 8 of the 21 criteria of satisfaction of the involved responses, enough to earn it overall victory.

In Zermatt, two of the restaurant places on the piste in Findeln have changed. And on the pistes in Cervinia, there is a new restaurant to be discovered. Also, a stroll around the village in Zermatt offers surprising things.

The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn has introduced regular half-hour train service to and from Zermatt and thus makes the trip even more convenient for train travellers. Therefore the journey for guests coming from Paris/Geneva, Lausanne and in general from the French part of Switzerland is 30 minutes shorter.

Zermatt is known for its innovations. The selection is growing: now there are new brand stores and pubs this winter season. Which means – off we go on another chapter in the Zermatt journey of discovery.

From 21 to 27 February 2015, Zermatt is once again hosting the Swatch Skiers Cup. Then the best riders in the world will ski down Zermatt’s pristine snow slopes. The captains from Europe (Julien Regnier, FR) and Americas (Seth Morrison, USA) have selected their teams. Included on Team Europe: Samuel Anthamatten from Zermatt.

Zermatt is THE culinary hot spot in the Alps. The Guide Michelin stars for 2015 have just been published, revealing that two Zermatt restaurants have been awarded one Michelin star each, Le Capri in the hotel Mont Cervin Palace and “After Seven” in the hotel Backstage. 33 hotels and 16 restaurants are listed in the Guide.

Zermatt is well known for its good cheese fondues and a rocking night life. For the winter 2014/2015 two new cheese restaurants, a new après-ski bar and a Bar/Brasserie open their doors. This means Zermatt is ready for new expeditions.

Great news from the Zermatt world of hotels: The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is listed among the 10 best resorts in the world by the renowned Condé Nast Traveler Internet platform. This was a result from the 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

Lonely Planet, the web portal for experienced travellers, selected 10 cities around the world that one must have visited in 2015. Zermatt is ranked fourth. The reason: Zermatt will celebrate the Matterhorn throughout 2015.

In winter, the Matterhorn village is full of superlatives: homely village atmosphere, wide pistes, a huge variety of restaurants, cosy hotels and holiday apartments, memorable adventures. Here is the first part of the latest news from Zermatt.

Facebook and Twitter keep Zermatt aficionados up to date on all events, big or small. Social media channels are perfect looking glasses into Zermatt, providing striking imagery of the village and it surroundings. Via these platforms, the Matterhorn village is in direct contact with regular guests and future visitors. The rapid increase in “followers” and “likes” is evidence of Zermatt’s ever-growing attractiveness.

In an official renaming ceremony on 6 October 2014, which was attended by the President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter, the former east peak in the Monte Rosa Massif is now renamed Dunantspitze (Dunant Peak) in commemoration of the founder of the Red Cross organisation.

The 2015 edition of the GaultMillau, Switzerland’s most popular restaurant guide, once again confirms that Zermatt offers its guests culinary art at its finest. The guide lists 17 restaurants and 7 gourmet hotels in Zermatt. All in all, Zermatt’s restaurants have a combined total of 238 GaultMillau points, making the village the place with the highest number of GaultMillau points in the Alps.

The Handelszeitung analysed 24 destinations in Europe. The result is the Alps Ranking of the best winter sports resorts in the Ski Total category. According to the Handelszeitung, Zermatt is the best Swiss winter sports destination, and in Europe, shares this first place in the European rankings with Zürs am Arlberg.

On 20 August 2014, there will be much to marvel at near the foot of the Matterhorn. Fifteen horses will pull a pack train to transport 10 nearly three-ton paving tiles towards the Hörnlihütte. Visitors are welcome to watch this nostalgic form of transportation.

No less than the world-famous conductor Sir Neville Marriner will open the Festival with a concert with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie under his baton on Friday, 5 September 2014. An unparalleled treat.

A piece of the local tradition is disappearing as part of the renovation work on the Hörnli Hut or Hörnlihütte. The old SAC hut will be dismantled on 20 August 2014 and a helicopter landing pad will take its place.

Regular guests return to Zermatt again and again because they appreciate its premium hotels which have been among the world’s top class for years. This has been confirmed by numerous ratings which are being published every year. The latest rating of the Swiss business magazine Bilanz examines the secret of their success: “Ultimate Alpine experience” (Riffelalp Resort), “Interplay with its environment” (Cervo) and “Home away from home with a human touch” (Coeur des Alpes).

19 July 2014 saw the official inauguration of the the Base Camp Matterhorn on Hirli (2,880 m). The weather resistance of the “Temporary Alpine Shelters” was immediately put to the test. Braving strong winds, the Camp at the foot of the Matterhorn provided comfortable accommodation to its first overnight guests.

On the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, 26 / 27 July 2014, Zermatt and Täsch/Randa will host two unusual golf tournaments. The famous Scottish-style Eagle Cup will take place on the Alpine meadows of the Gornergrat and the PUYS on Sunday will be held on the golf course.

On 1 August, a group of hikers will embark on the anniversary “Tour du Monte Rosa”. For the 20th time this year, guests are invited to take part. A commemorative plaque will be inaugurated at the Monte Moro Pass to mark the occasion.

On Monday, 14 July at 1.40 p.m., seven pyro salutes will commemorate an event that had a long-lasting effect on the village of Zermatt: the first ascent of the Matterhorn. The countdown clock by Tissot is now counting the days until the 150th anniversary day.

Like every year, Zermatt’s mountain guides have attached new fixed ropes in the upper section of the Matterhorn. The safe ascent from the ‘Matterhorn Base Camp’ is now guaranteed, just in time for the summer season.

Romantic experience at the Matterhorn glacier paradise (3,883 m) which is served by Europe‘s highest mountain railway station. The sunset dinner will take place every second Saturday throughout the summer 2014.

Both the SonntagsZeitung and Karl Wild‘s book on Switzerland’s top 150 hotels “Die 150 besten Hotels der Schweiz”, 2014/2015 edition, have just published the latest hotel rankings. Once again, Zermatt’s hotels have a prominent position, with Hotel Cervo actually winning the title of “Hotel of the year”.

Zermatt is the Alpine gourmet village par excellence. Quite a number of TripAdvisor‘s 2014 certificates of excellence went to restaurants in the Matterhorn village, placing Zermatt third after Zurich and Geneva in Swiss comparison.

That Zermatt is always exciting is a common theme in the books written about it. New publications include two hiking guides and a book on development aid in Nepal which was written in collaboration with Zermatt‘s Alpine Rescue Center.

This year, the Patrouille des Glaciers (PDG) has attracted record numbers of participants. Most of the 5,400 competitors will start in Zermatt, while some have opted for the shorter course beginning in Arolla. The two departure days in Zermatt had been posedponed by 24 hours each.

In the recent Travellers’ Choice Awards 2014, Zermatt came in top among Swiss destinations and 19th among European destinations. In addition, Zermatt is the only Swiss resort that made it into the top 20.

The seventh Zermatt Unplugged, which will take place at the foot of the Matterhorn from 8 to 12 April 2014, has a lot to offer: two new stages, 54 shows in five days and a roster of international stars.

4,478 is both the height of the Matterhorn and the number of followers in the Zermatt-Matterhorn Twitter community. Zermatt is an active user of social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, giving Zermatt aficionados the opportunity to keep up to date with all small and big events that are taking place in and around the destination.

On 23 August 2014, the Matterhorn Ultraks Trail will enter its second round. Registration for the races started on Sunday, 8 December 2013. Participants and spectators will be happy to hear that a new track has been added to the competition.

Get a picture – watch a video! The Zermatt-Matterhorn destination presents you with a close-up of memorable adventures in Zermatt. The video includes visitors’ tales of their exploits and shows the most beautiful spots in Zermatt in winter and in summer.

The "mercenary” on show in the Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis has disappeared. Until February 2015, “Theo” will be on loan to the “Frozen Stories” exhibition in Bolzano’s “Ötzi museum” (South Tyrol, Italy).

According to the ski region rating by Snow-Online.de, Zermatt-Matterhorn is among the top ten ski areas for professionals. Moreover, the destination was ranked among the top five ski regions worldwide by the Live in a Lux luxury travel portal.

Several natives of Zermatt will be competing at the Winter Games in Sochi. This will be Fränzi Aufdenblatten’s third time on the Olympic team while Yannic Lerjen will compete in the Freestyle Halfpipe discipline for the first time. The most famous “Zermatt native”, Vanessa Mae, will represent Thailand in the downhill slalom. Behind the scenes, experienced Zermatt mountain rescuer Bruno Jelk will be in charge of safety on the Sochi slopes.

According to sightsmap.com, the Google web portal, the Matterhorn is the most photographed mountain in the world. The ranking shows that no other mountain in the world is snapped as frequently as Zermatt’s Matterhorn.

For the second consecutive time, Zermatt has been voted most sustainable winter destination in Switzerland. The ‘Verkehrsclub der Schweiz’ (VCS), the Swiss Cycling Club, presented Zermatt with the “Mobil & ökologisch” award (mobile and ecologic) for a number of reasons, chief among them the Matterhorn village’s convenient accessibility by public transport.

Zermatt is the Swiss gourmet village par excellence. Three new restaurants in Zermatt have been awarded a star and been included in the 2014 issue of the Guide Michelin Switzerland, the popular restaurant guide.

Zermatt is an active user of the Twitter social media network, putting the Matterhorn village in direct contact with guests and prospective visitors. The address for anyone who would like to keep abreast of the news and events, big or small, is Zermatt @zermatt_tourism.

Insiders have known for a long term that Zermatt is Switzerland‘s big cyclists’ paradise. Now the “Swiss Epic”, the biggest bike race, is coming to the canton of Valais for the first time and also to Zermatt. Registration for participants starts on 13th October 2013, but be warned, the number of participants is limited.

According to the 2014 edition of the GaultMillau restaurant guide, Zermatt excels in the culinary department. This year 21 restaurants have made it into the guide – one more than in 2013. All in all, Zermatt’s village and mountain restaurants were awarded an impressive 293 points.

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s environmental efforts are bearing fruit: The company has received the 2013 Revegetation Award for its renaturation scheme, which mitigates the environmental impact of piste construction. Not only is Zermatt car-free, even its piste construction is carried out in harmony with nature.

Zermatt’s hotels are among the best in Switzerland. The top hotels in the Matterhorn village have been awarded high ratings by Switzerland’s leading business magazine Bilanz. The outperformer among the hotels is Zermatt’s Hotel Coeur des Alpes which has been awarded first place in the unique hotel category for the fourth year running.

Zermatt hotels are top. In the prize awards for the 100 most friendly hotels in Switzerland, as many as 11 Zermatt hotels are included. Although they did not win first place, the broad foundations of hospitality of the Zermatt hotel business is a super result. The Hotel Sonne shone in second place as the best Zermatt hotel in the “large holiday hotels” category.

Long-term investments secure competitiveness – that’s the maxim that underlies the Strategy 2018 of Destination Zermatt-Matterhorn. On Wednesday 6 March 2013, the key service providers signed a corresponding action plan on the Gornergrat. The focus of the measures planned is the well-being of the guests.

Zermatt’s ski instructors are world champions. Zermatt’s contingent performed outstandingly well at the ISIA Ski Instructors World Championships in Bulgaria. Alex Taugwalder is World Champion Ski Instructor in Giant Slalom, with Demian Franzen third. Zermatt’s instructors were also top dog in the synchronised runs.

For the fourth successive time, the skiing destination Zermatt Matterhorn was voted the best skiing area in 2013 by the German ‘ski bible‘, the ADAC SkiGuide, at the end of November 2012. This was in the category “alpine skiing“. Particular praise was given for the mixture of different types of pistes.

Alsace-born chef Frédéric Fischer has been cooking at the Hotel Alex for 15 years. The top chef’s cuisine is loved far and wide. And he in turn loves the cuisine of the Valais. And has just published a 300-page book of Valais recipes entitled La haute cuisine du Valais.

Helicopter pilot Daniel Aufdenblatten and mountain rescue specialist Richi Lehner were awarded yet another honorary prize on Saturday, 17th March 2012. They were honoured by the FAI at the general meeting of the Aero Club of Switzerland for their mountain rescue in Nepal.

An honour for Swiss Youth Hostels: they received the Swiss Solar Prize on the 10th October 2011. For Zermatt, this is a further milestone for sustainability. Because the Youth Hostel Zermatt was the first Swiss youth hostel with the Minergie standard.

Hat trick for Zermatt: At the end of September 2011, and for the third time in succession, the ski destination Zermatt Matterhorn was declared to be the best ski area in 2012 in the “Alpine skiing” category by the German “ski bible”, the ADAC SkiGuide. The mix of varied pistes received particular praise.

For the second consecutive time, Zermatt has been voted most sustainable winter destination in Switzerland. The ‘Verkehrsclub der Schweiz’ (VCS), the Swiss Cycling Club, presented Zermatt with the “Mobil & ökologisch” award (mobile and ecologic) for a number of reasons, chief among them the Matterhorn village’s convenient accessibility by public transport.

With teamwork, knowledge and experience, Daniel Aufdenblatten and Richard Lehner from Zermatt saved the lives of three mountaineers. On Annapurna (Nepal) in spring 2010, they carried out the highest-ever mountain rescue – at 7000 metres altitude – by helicopter. In Washington DC today, they received on march 8 2011 the ‘Aviation Oscar’, the Heroism Award, for their feat.

An SAC hut with 120 beds faces enormous challenges. At 2880 m.a.s.l. there is no water or electricity supply and connections for waste water and sewage are also lacking. Furthermore, an SAC hut is exposed to extreme weather conditions.

The Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) in Zermatt with its viewing platform at an altitude of 3,883 metres above sea level is the sunniest place in Switzerland. What could be more natural that to utilise this environmentally friendly energy.